Airbus signs historic contract to supply 19 H135 military training helicopters to Royal Canadian Air Force

Airbus Helicopters has signed a landmark contract with SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian defense leaders CAE and KF Aerospace, to supply the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to train the RCAF’s next generation of pilots. The contract is part of Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program and marks the first time Airbus helicopters will join the Canadian Armed Forces.

The twin-engine helicopters will be completed and delivered at Airbus Helicopters’ industrial facility located in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. They will be equipped with a number of additional Type Certificates developed in Canada, including modifications to the avionics suite and communication systems and custom cockpit development. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026.

The agreement includes the acquisition of the H135 helicopters along with a support and services package, support for the development of a ground training solution, and advanced engineering support for commissioning.

With more than 400,000 flight hours dedicated to military training, the H135 is used for basic ab-initio training, advanced IFR training, and tactical training, with operators including several close military allies of Canada such as Australia and the United Kingdom. As a full training aircraft, the H135 enables basic skills development through twin engines and advanced avionics, which allow for easy and safe pilot transition to more complex helicopters in the RCAF fleet. The H135 thus joins other Airbus aircraft currently in service for Canadian defense such as the Airbus 310 (CC150 Polaris), Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (CC330 Husky), and Airbus C295 (CC295 Kingfisher).

Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters to Canada. In 2023, the Canadian fleet of 760 helicopters in service totaled more than 275,000 flight hours. The Fort Erie site is also the center of excellence for light helicopter gearboxes and the only supplier of critical composite components for platforms worldwide. Each year, Airbus Helicopters ships 34,000 parts from Fort Erie to customers worldwide.

In Canada, more than 4,500 people work in ten Airbus locations covering the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defense, and space sectors. Airbus’ presence in Canada contributes about 23,000 indirect jobs and generates more than C$2 billion in annual revenues for more than 850 companies in the country.

Sources and images

• Airbus Press Release